Local

The harvest is under way, though the corn and soybean progress remains behind last yearâ€™s levels, according to the weekly USDA crop progress report.

Thirteen percent of the corn crop is out of the ground, compared to 69 percent at this time last year. For soybeans, the respective figures are 10 and 20.

Conditions are good or excellent for 52 percent of corn and 56 percent of soybeans.

Itâ€™s still dry out there, with 70 percent of topsoil and 69 percent of subsoil showing short or very short moisture. â€śFor people that are planting wheat now, and for people that are thinking about next yearâ€™s crop,â€ť says USDA crop statistician Mark Schleusener, â€śweâ€™ve got a full fall and winter and some spring to recharge that soil moisture.â€ť